Potted tree support assembly

ABSTRACT

A potted tree support assembly includes a housing with a bottom wall and a perimeter wall. A plurality of interlocking slats is positionable in the housing to define a plurality of compartments each configured for receiving a base of a tree therein. A plurality of slots extends into an inner surface of the perimeter wall. Each of the slots has an associated opposing slot extending into the perimeter wall to define an aligned pair of the slots. Each of the slats has a pair of opposed ends and the opposed ends of each of the slats is removably positionable in a selectable one of the aligned pair of the slots. A plurality of legs is coupled to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of the U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/531,755 filed on Jun. 25, 2012 under Title 35 U.S.C. §120.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to potted plant supporting devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new potted plant supporting device forsupporting potted trees in an upright manner such that the potted treesare not easily toppled by high winds.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a housing that has a bottom wall and a perimeterwall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. Theperimeter wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The perimeterwall bounds an enclosed space and the bottom wall has a generallyrectangular shape. A plurality of interlocking slats is provided. Theslats are selectively positionable in the enclosed space to define aplurality of compartments in the enclosed space. Each of thecompartments is configured for receiving a base of a tree thereinwhereby the tree is supported in an upright position. A plurality ofslots extends into the inner surface of the perimeter wall. Theperimeter wall includes four walls and each of the four walls has aplurality of the slots therein. Each of the slots extends through theupper edge and down to the bottom wall, wherein each of the slots has anassociated opposing slot extending into the perimeter wall to define analigned pair of the slots. Each of the slats has a pair of opposed endsand the opposed ends of each of the slats is removably positionable in aselectable one of the aligned pair of the slots. A plurality of legs iscoupled to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottomwall. The legs are spaced apart whereby the legs are configured forreceiving a lift and the housing is selectively supportable on the lift.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of a potted tree support assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top left perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through7 thereof, a new potted plant supporting device embodying the principlesand concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designatedby the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the potted tree supportassembly 10 generally comprises a housing 12 that has a bottom wall 114and a perimeter wall 16 attached to and extending upwardly from thebottom wall 14. The perimeter wall 16 has an inner surface 18 and anouter surface 20 and the perimeter wall 16 bounds an enclosed space. Thebottom wall 14 has a generally rectangular shape and the perimeter wall16 tapers outwardly from the bottom wall 14 to an upper edge 22 of theperimeter wall 16 to allow nesting of multiple housings 12. The housing12 may have a length and width each between 45.0 inches and 65.0 inchesalong the upper edge 22 of the perimeter wall. This may decrease, ineach direction, by between 2.0 inches and 6.0 inches at the bottom wall14. The perimeter wall 16 may have a height generally between 8.0 inchesand 16.0 inches.

The perimeter wall 16 may include a front wall 24, rear wall 26, firstlateral wall 28 and second lateral wall 30. The front wall 24 has adrain opening 32 extending therethrough adjacent to the bottom wall 14.A plug 34 is removably positionable in the drain opening 32. A well 36extends into the front wall 24. The well 36 receives the plug 34 whenthe plug 34 is removed from the drain opening 32 for storage purposes.The well 36 may be positioned nearer to the upper edge 22 than thebottom wall 16. The drain opening 32, plug 34 and well 36 may each bethreaded. The perimeter wall 16 also includes a plurality of handles 38.Each of the first 28 and second 30 lateral walls may include at leastone of the handles 38. While the handles 38 may include attached handlesor raised portions of the perimeter wall, the Figures depict handles 38extending into the outer surface 20 of the perimeter wall 16. As can beseen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the perimeter 16 and bottom 14 walls may behollow such they are formed from an inner body and an outer body joinedtogether by a connecting intermediate wall. Holes 40 may extend throughthe upper edge 22 of the perimeter wall 16 into a space 42 between innerand outer bodies. Should additional weight be required for the assembly10, sand, water or other fluidic acting material may be poured into theholes 40.

A plurality of interlocking slats 44 is provided. The slats 44 areselectively positionable in the enclosed space to define a plurality ofcompartments 50 in the enclosed space. Each of the compartments 50 isconfigured for receiving a base of a tree therein whereby the tree issupported in an upright position. A plurality of slots 46 extends intothe inner surface 18 of the perimeter wall 16. The perimeter wall 16includes the four walls describe above and each of the four walls has aplurality of the slots 46 therein. Each of the slots 46 extends throughthe upper edge 22 and down to the bottom wall 14. The slots 46 each havean associated opposing slot 46 extending into the perimeter wall 16 todefine an aligned pair of the slots 46. The slats 44 each have a pair ofopposed ends 48 and the opposed ends 48 of each of the slats 44 isremovably positionable in a selectable one of the aligned pair of theslots 46. The slots 46 may be positioned from each other between 4.0inches and 5.0 inches from each other and further may be positionedalong a length of each of the front 24, rear 26, first lateral 28 andsecond lateral 30 walls. The slots may be equally spaced from each otheror their may be variances in the distances between them such thatcompartments 50 may be made having particular sizes useful to theindustry of potted trees, bushes and shrubs. The slats 44 and housing 12may be comprised of a plastic material.

Each of the slats 44 has an edge 52 having a plurality of spaced slits54 therein. More particular, the edge 52 will be either a top edge or abottom edge of the slats 44 depending upon the orientation of theparticular slat 44. Each of the slits 54 is in alignment with one of thealigned pair of slots 46 when the opposed ends 48 of the slat 44 areinserted into the aligned pair of slots 46. The slits 54 of one of theslats 44 are engaged with the slits 54 of another of the slats 44 whenthe slats 44 are engaged with each other. More specifically, downwardlydirected slits 54 of one slat 44 are engaged with upwardly directedslits 54 of another one of the slats 44. The slits 54 travelapproximately ½ of a height of the slats 44.

A plurality of legs 56 is provided and each is coupled to and extendsdownwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall 14. The legs 56 arespaced apart whereby the legs 56 are configured for receiving a liftsuch as would be found with a conventional powered or hand drivenforklift. The housing 12 is selectively supportable on the lift fortransportation of the assembly 10. The plurality of legs 56 includes upto nine legs 56 arranged into three aligned rows of three legs 56. Thelegs 56 include four corner legs 58 each positioned adjacent to one ofthe corners of the bottom wall 14. The corner legs 58 have a bottomsurface having an aperture 60 extending therein that is configured toreceive and support a tree by insertion of a trunk of the tree into anassociated one of the apertures 60 when the housing 12 is in an invertedposition. Each aperture 60 may be hexagon shaped. A diameter of acylinder positioned within the aperture 60 may have a maximum diameterof between 3.5 inches and 6.0 inches. The legs 58 may have a heightequal to approximately 6.0 inches.

The bottom wall 14 has an upper surface that has a plurality of troughs62 therein. The troughs 62 each extend between the front wall 24 and therear wall 26 of the perimeter wall 16. The troughs 62 are divided byraised sections 64 of the bottom wall 14 and each of the slots 46 in thefront 24 and rear 26 walls is aligned with one of the raised sections64. Thus, when water is placed in the housing 12, it is not blocked fromflowing by slats 44 positioned within the troughs 62. While the troughs62 may be angled from the rear wall 26 to the front wall 24, this is notrequired. The troughs 62 will generally have a width between 1.0 inchesand 3.0 inches and a depth of 1.0 inches or less.

In use, the slats 44 are positioned where needed within the enclosedspace such that the compartments 50 formed by the slats 44 conform tothe size of the pot in which a tree or other tall plant is potted. Theterm “tree” is used to describe any plant but may in particular be usedwith respect to various wooded trees, shrubs and bushes. The housing 12may be filled partially with water by plugging the drain opening 32 orit may be allowed to drain by removing the plug 34. The drain opening 32will be positioned at the same level as the upper surface of the bottomwall 14 so that excess water, if not wanted, will be drained from thehousing 12. The pots will rest upon the raised sections 62 to ensureproper drainage therefrom. The pots, being positioned within thecompartments 50, will be highly resistant to falling over during highwinds from storms and the like while the housing 12 allows for properirrigation of the pots.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A plant displaying assembly comprising: a housing having abottom wall and a perimeter wall being attached to and extendingupwardly from said bottom wall, said perimeter wall having an innersurface and an outer surface, said perimeter wall bounding an enclosedspace, said bottom wall having a generally rectangular shape; aplurality of interlocking slats, said slats being selectivelypositionable in said enclosed space, said slats defining a plurality ofcompartments in said enclosed space, each of said compartments beingconfigured for receiving a base of a tree therein whereby the tree issupported in an upright position; a plurality of slots extending intosaid inner surface of said perimeter wall, said perimeter wall includingfour walls, each of said four walls having a plurality of said slotstherein, each of said slots extending through said upper edge and downto said bottom wall, wherein each of said slots has an associatedopposing slot extending into said perimeter wall to define an alignedpair of said slots; each of said slats having a pair of opposed ends,said opposed ends of each of said slats being removably positionable ina selectable one of said aligned pair of said slots; and a plurality oflegs coupled to and extending downwardly from a bottom surface of saidbottom wall, said legs being spaced apart whereby said legs areconfigured for receiving a lift, whereby said housing is selectivelysupportable on the lift.
 2. The plant displaying assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said perimeter wall tapers outwardly from said bottomwall to an upper edge of said perimeter wall to allow nesting ofmultiple housings.
 3. The plant displaying assembly according to claim1, wherein each of said slats having an edge having a plurality ofspaced slits therein, each of said slits being in alignment with one ofsaid aligned pair of slots when said opposed ends of said slat areinserted into said aligned pair of slots, wherein said slits of one ofsaid slats are engaged with said slits of another of said slats whensaid slats are engaged with each other.
 4. The plant displaying assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said plurality of legs including nine legsbeing arranged into three aligned rows of three legs.
 5. The plantdisplaying assembly according to claim 4, wherein said legs include fourcorner legs each positioned adjacent to one of said corners of saidbottom wall, each of said corner legs having a bottom surface having anaperture extending therein, each aperture being configured to receiveand support a trees by insertion of a trunk of the tree into anassociated one of said apertures when said housing is in an invertedposition.
 6. The plant displaying assembly according to claim 5, whereineach aperture is hexagon shaped.
 7. The plant displaying assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said bottom wall has an upper surfacehaving a plurality of troughs therein, said troughs each extendingbetween a front wall and a rear wall of said perimeter wall.
 8. Theplant displaying assembly according to claim 7, wherein said troughs aredivided by raised sections of said bottom wall, each of said slots insaid front and rear walls being aligned with one of said raisedsections.
 9. The plant displaying assembly according to claim 7, whereinsaid front wall has a drain opening extending therethrough adjacent tosaid bottom wall, a plug being removably positionable in said drainopening.
 10. The plant displaying assembly according to claim 9, whereina well extends into said front wall, said well receiving said plug whensaid plug is removed from said drain opening.
 11. The plant displayingassembly according to claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall includes aplurality of handles.
 12. The plant displaying assembly according toclaim 11, wherein said perimeter wall includes a first lateral wall anda second lateral wall, each of said first and second lateral wallsincluding at least one of said handles.
 13. The plant displayingassembly according to claim 11, wherein each of said handles extendsinto said outer surface of said perimeter wall.
 14. A plant displayingassembly comprising: a housing having a bottom wall and a perimeter wallbeing attached to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall, saidperimeter wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, saidperimeter wall bounding an enclosed space, said bottom wall having agenerally rectangular shape, said perimeter wall tapering outwardly fromsaid bottom wall to an upper edge of said perimeter wall to allownesting of multiple housings; a plurality of interlocking slats, saidslats being selectively positionable in said enclosed space, said slatsdefining a plurality of compartments in said enclosed space, each ofsaid compartments being configured for receiving a base of a treetherein whereby the tree is supported in an upright position; aplurality of slots extending into said inner surface of said perimeterwall, said perimeter wall including four walls, each of said four wallshaving a plurality of said slots therein, each of said slots extendingthrough said upper edge and down to said bottom wall, wherein each ofsaid slots has an associated opposing slot extending into said perimeterwall to define an aligned pair of said slots; each of said slats havinga pair of opposed ends, said opposed ends of each of said slats beingremovably positionable in a selectable one of said aligned pair of saidslots; each of said slats having an edge having a plurality of spacedslits therein, each of said slits being in alignment with one of saidaligned pair of slots when said opposed ends of said slat are insertedinto said aligned pair of slots, wherein said slits of one of said slatsare engaged with said slits of another of said slats when said slats areengaged with each other; a plurality of legs coupled to and extendingdownwardly from a bottom surface of said bottom wall, said legs beingspaced apart whereby said legs are configured for receiving a lift,whereby said housing is selectively supportable on the lift, saidplurality of legs including nine legs being arranged into three alignedrows of three legs, said legs including four corner legs each positionedadjacent to one of said corners of said bottom wall, each of said cornerlegs having a bottom surface having an aperture extending therein, eachaperture being configured to receive and support a trees by insertion ofa trunk of the tree into an associated one of said apertures when saidhousing is in an inverted position, each aperture being hexagon shaped;said bottom wall having an upper surface having a plurality of troughstherein, said troughs each extending between a front wall and a rearwall of said perimeter wall, said troughs being divided by raisedsections of said bottom wall, each of said slots in said front and rearwalls being aligned with one of said raised sections; said front wallhaving a drain opening extending therethrough adjacent to said bottomwall, a plug being removably positionable in said drain opening; a wellextending into said front wall, said well receiving said plug when saidplug is removed from said drain opening, said well being positionednearer to said upper edge than said bottom wall; and said perimeter wallincluding a plurality of handles, said perimeter wall including a firstlateral wall and a second lateral wall, each of said first and secondlateral walls including at least one of said handles, each of saidhandles extending into said outer surface of said perimeter wall.